Gas-regulator.



F. C. BLANCHARD 6a E. B. CROGKER.

' GAS REGULATOR.

APPLICATION PILBDYPEBJ?, 1912.

Lam

Patented July 2, 1912.

tlv ST FREDERICK C. BLANCHARD AND. ERNEST B. CROCKER, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT,

ASSIGNORS TO THE ASHCROFT MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF BRIDGEPORT, CON- NECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

GAS-REGULATOR.

Speeication of Letters Patent.

aoaonct.

Patented July 2,1912.

Application filed February 17, 1912. Serial No. 678,327.

improvements of which the chief object is to render an instrument-of this character highly sensitive and at the same .time per-A manently reliable.,

A characteristic example of gas regulators of the species to which our improvements are applicable is shown and described in United States Letters Patent No. 948,340,

. dated February 8, 1910, to William R. Park.

As a pressure regulatorB of this general character must deliver gas under substantially uniform pressure regardless of large variations in pressure at the source of supply it must combine quick sensitiveness of operation with substantial design and construction. Moreover since a conspicuous field of utility is to be found in the gas illuminating apparatus carried by the modern motor vehicles it is indispensable to have the regulator so constructed that the shocks and vibrations incident to road travel shall not interfere with smooth and regular operation.

y With these objects in view we have invented the improvements hereinbelow described, specific exam-ples of which are .shown and illustrated in the drawings hereto annexed in whicln-f/ Figure l shows a gas pressure regulator 1n section; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the instrument with the cover thereof removed and the diaphragm partly broken away to show the interior arrangement; Fig. 3 is'a cross section of the cover of the regulator `taken diametrically through thepentrance for an adjusting screw; Fig. 4 shows details of the connections between the diaphragm and theV -inlet valve operating mechanlsm; and Flg. 5

shows in section an 'alternative construction of valve seat.

The casing for our improved gas pressure regulator is formed of cast metal 1n two portions, a body 1 and a cover 2; these two portions making a close joint w1th each other to confine the flexible diaphragm N at its periphery; screws S being employed to set and hold the cover 2 in place. At the inlet opening to the chamber contained in the body 1 and inclosed by the diaphragm there is provided a' screw plug A A which is axially bored out to provide a passage for gas from the source of supply and also toA furnish suitable bearings for the valve B. At or near the entrance end of this plug the filter T is placed, this consists preferably of a wad of absorbent cotton confined between two disks of wire gauze. The filter T is held in place by a screw plug U which is centrally perforated to allow the passage of gas. Midway between the two ends of the plug A A the aperture therethrough is constricted' as at D so as to provide a very small inlet opening for gas and also to furnish a base for the soft metal valve seat A which is' preferably composed of pure tin fused into the nlug, centrally perforated and shaped to 'orm a conical valve seat. The larger cylindrical bore E constitutes a sliding bearing for the valve B. This valve is preferably composed of a hard brass or bronze and is so proportioned as to have considerable length iny relation to its diameter and furthermore is centrally bored out from its rear ond to a point in the rear of the conical seating end C. Preferably this central bore extends more than half way to the seatinof end ofthe valve. The socket formed by boring out the interior of the valve B terminates in a conical seat against which the round end of the push pin F bears centrally in order to press the valve B to its seat A. In order to insure a close and accurate seating of the valvel its seating end` C is given a'cone shape someconical end of the socket formed-in the valve` itself. If great care be taken to grind the seating surface of the valve B carefully, so

thatno irregularities will be presentto im press themselves in the seat .fipthe arrangement of hard metal for the valve and soft metal for the seat will be satisfactory. If however the valve B-is in the least irregular, its4 fault will be impressed on the seat A, 5 and as soonas thevvalve shifts rotatively', as

it may inthe free cylindrical bearing, the irregularity rwill bev impressed on a diiferent portion of the seat, and leakswill deve-lop. Thisdiilicu'lty is overcome by providing the structure illustrated in Fig. 5, in which a seat A of hard rubber is held in place by a centrally perforated screw plug V.'4 The valve B, seating in the rubber A may be A slightly irregular in shape, but as soon as 15 the valveepr'essure is removed from the seat A, the elastic material of which the seat is composed restores itself, obliterating any irregularity of impression made upon it, so that even if the valve B were to shift relatively, it will always find a tight seat.

, The valve operating lever J is fulcrumed on the pin K which passes through the ears of the adjusting block I. Close to the ful-- crum pin K a bearingpin G passes transversely through the lever J `and dthis lever, is bored out to thetransverse hole which accommodates the pin G so that the push pin F which lies partly in the socket in the valve B and partly in the hole H formed in the ad- 30 justing block I lies with its rear end lodged in the end cavity' of thev lever J close to the pin Gr which thus affords a rounded'bearing surface to rest'against the vend 'of the push pin F which may be either flat or slightly 35 rounded. The round pin Gis so proportioned that aline drawn vfrom the center of the fulcrum4 pin K to the line Where the in G bears on the buttof the pushl in F ma es asright angle with the axis of t e pusher F,

40 which is practically coincident with 'a line drawn from this bearing to the center or axis of the valve seat A, when the valve B is just seated. This arrangement eliminates 'all sliding friction at theend .of the push 4'5' wpin F when the valve Bis seating. The adjusting block I is made to sl1p into the `l threaded aperture which is closed by the plug 'A A, and is bored out so as to slide over the inner end of the said plug. When the correct position of Tthe adjusting block I is determined as will hereafterL be described the set screws S S are turned down to pin -the adjusting block I into place. The two' projecting ears of the adjusting block I I which provide lodgment for theful'crum pin K are also perforated as at Y- at an angle, to -.receive the legs of the U-spring L which Apasses through the hole Z in the leverJ. At the end of this lever J the link or stirr'up L i A'60 is provided and this link has a slot at 'its 'cross-head through which to introduce the -T-'shapedprojectlon m which is secured to the diaphragm N. j

In assembling the above described parts .165 of the instrument, the plug A A, being `push pin F is then placed in the socket of bore'E is in no danger of binding or crampscrewed tightly to a packed seat, the valve Bf is inserted in the aperture in the plu'g, the

the valve B and the adjusting block I with the lever J (carrying the link L) attached to it by means of the fulcrum pin K and having also the spring L in position as shown is inserted into the threaded opening closed by the plug AVA, at its outer end. The adjusting block L is slid into this open'- 75 ing until the valve B reaches its seat A and then, care being taken to see that the adjusting' block I is correctly placed so that the link L will make proper connection with the diaphragm, the set screws S S are screwed down, holding the adjusting block I firmly in place. Then the diaphragm N is placed in position by inserting the T-headed projection m into the slot in the cross-head vof the link L and then giving the diaphragm a quarter turn so as to bring the T- head m across the slot in the link as shown in Fig. 4. The securement of the T-head Ym to the diaphragm N is provided by the nut and washer arrangement shown at R. The 90 instrument is now ready for the application of the cover 2. This cover carries the adjusting spring O, which is a leaf spring secured at one side .of the cover, and the adjusting screw P which is threaded'into a 95 boss and is inclined downwardly so that the inner end of the screwmay bear upon the .top of the leaf spring O. The inner end of vtween the articulated inner members which for the sake of easy assemblage and the reduction of friction are somewhat looselyput together. The spring L thus guards against damage which might be occasioned by shocks lor' vibrations. It will be observed V that `"the anchorage of the two legs of the spring L is quite close to the fulcrum axis of the pin K so that the movement of the lever J can produce but little friction between the spring and the lever. As the spring L is de-4 signedly very li ht any frictional element it introduces i'n t e apparatus is negligible. The valve B having ample bearings in the ing. Its free movement is further insured by the push pin connection between 4thevalve B and the lever J. When the valve is moved toward its seat by this push pin,'tl1e rounded end of the pin automatically'iinds 1f the center position in the conical base of the socket within the valve B and exerts pressure on the valve quite close to the seating end therepf. In moving the valve inward, the push pin F carries the bearing portions of the valve B in the rear of its operating end. Then movement of the valve takes -place in the ,opposite direction it is in response to a subsidence of the diaphragm N which relieves the push pressure transmitted by the push pin F so that the movement of the valve B fromrits seat under gas pressure from the source of supply is easy and per formedwith a -minimum offriction. The Contact bearing between the round Pin Gr and the end ofthe push pin F further conduces to elimination of friction.

By securing the adjusting spring 0 andA secting the holes provided for the screws S;

the shanks of these screws being slightly smaller than the cover-holes provide vent While the presence of the screws in the holes furnishes an obstacle to the introduction of any mischevious instrument which might endanger the diaphragm N and put the instrument out of operation. J

While the easy sliding lit of the valve B and the parts directly connected with it are such that gas may enter the diaphragm- 4closed chamber Without special provision for its passage, the lateral apertures W Will be found desirable so that gas entering the instrument may pass through these apertures and then find its Way along the sides of the adjusting plug into the interior of the regulator.

What We claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. ln a gas pressure regulator of the character described, the combination with diaphragm? controlled valve lever, of a plug, perforate to afford gas inlet, and bored to furnish asliding bearing for an inlet valve With a valve seat at the base of the bore, an inlet valve, elongated to adord largebearing surface, to slide in the said bearing, the valve centrally bored from its rear end to a point near to the seating end and in advance of a material portion of the valve bearing surface, a fulcrum block `fittin in t-he inner end of the gas-inlet plug, provlded with a fulcrum pin for the valve-lever and centrally perforated to admit a valve pusher, said valve pusher, consisting of a rod, loosely lodged in the passage composed of the perforations in the block and the central bore of the valve, and means to secure the fulcrum block in place adj ustably.

*2. In a gas pressure regulator of the character described, the combination with a diaphragm-controlled valve lever, provided with a rounded push-bearing, of j a plug,` perforated to afford gas inlet, bored to furnish a sliding bearing for an inlet valve, with a valve seat at the base of the bore, an inlet valve, elongated to aord large bearing surface, to slide in the said bearing, the valve centrally bored from its rear end to a conical bearing near to the seating end and in advance of a material portion of the valve bearing surface, a fulcrum block fitting in the inner end of the gas-inlet plug, provided with a fulcrum pin for the valve-lever and centrally perforated to admit a valve pusher, said valve pusher, consisting of a rod, loosely lodged in the passage composed of the perforations in the block and the central bore of the valve and rounded at the end engaging the conical bearing, to transmit movement from the lever to the valve, and means to secure the fulcrum block in place adj ustably.

3. In a gas regulator of the character described, the combination with a diaphragmcontrolled valve lever, of a plug perforated to aEord gas inlet, bored to furnish a sliding bearing for an inlet valve with a valve seat at the base of the bore, an inlet valve, elongated to afford large bearing surface, to slide in said bearing, the valve centrally bored from its rear end to a point near to the seating end and in advance of a material portion of the valve bearing surface, a fulcrum block fitting in the inner end of the gas-inlet plug, provided with a fulcrum pin for the valve-lever and centrally perforated to admit a valve pusher, said valve pusher, consisting of a rod, loosely lodged in the passage composed of the perforations in the block and the central bore of the valve to transmit movement from the lever to the valve and means to secure the fulcrum block adjustably, and a take up spring, anchored in the fulcrum block close to the fulcrum axis and bearing on the valve lever, to take up slack between the parts connecting the diaphragm with the valve lever.

4:. In a gas pressure regulator of the character described, the combination With a diaphragm-controlled Valve lever, provided With a rounded push-bearing, of' a plug, perforated to afford gas inlet, bored to furnish a sliding bearing for an inlet valve, with a valve seat at the base of the bore, an inletA valve, elongated to adord large bearing surface, to slide in the said bearing, the valvel centrally bored from its rear end to a conical bearing near to the seating end and in advance of a material portion of the valve bearing surfacefa fulcrum block fitting in i pusher, said valve pusher, consisting of a rod, loosely lodged in the passage composed of the. perforations in thev block and the centralbore of the valve and rounded at the end engaging the conical bearing to transmit movement from the lever to the valve, and means to securey the fulcrum block in place-adjustably, the parts being so proportioned that when the inlet valve is seated,

a line drawn from the ulcrum center tothe *15 angles to a line drawn from said tangent ofy Y contact to the center lof the inlet valve seat.

Signed byus at Bridgeport, Connecticut 2o this 6th day of February 1912. v

FREDERICK C. BLANCHARD. ERNEST B. CROCKERM,

Witnesses:. l

W. R.'"'CLARKE, Jams P. ONnn.. 

